A Sheaf of Bluebells

"A Sheaf of Bluebells" by Baroness Emmuska Orczy is a historical novel written in the early 20th century. The narrative unfolds in the context of post-revolutionary France under Napoleon, focusing on the lives of émigrés returning to a homeland they once fled. The story involves key characters such as Madame la Marquise de Mortain, her son Laurent, and relatives like M. le Comte de Courson and his daughter Fernande, all entangled in intrigue, political machinations, and a clash of aristocratic ideals against the backdrop of a changing society. At the start of the novel, readers are introduced to a plot revolving around the return of the Mortains and the Coursons to France after years of exile due to the Revolution. The narrative describes a meeting between the Emperor Napoleon and his Minister of Police, Fouché, as they discuss the implications of allowing the return of these émigrés. As the story progresses, Madame de Mortain returns to her family's decaying estate, reflecting on the loss and devastation wrought by time and political upheaval. Tension rises as characters scheme and grapple with their identities and loyalties amidst the socio-political landscape of France, setting the stage for the complex relationships and conflicts that will follow. (This is an automatically generated summary.)

Baroness Emma Orczy, usually known as Baroness Orczy or to her family and friends as Emmuska Orczy, was a Hungarian-born British novelist and playwright. She is best known for her series of novels featuring the Scarlet Pimpernel, the alter ego of Sir Percy Blakeney, a wealthy English fop who turns into a quick-thinking escape artist in order to save French aristocrats from "Madame Guillotine" during the French Revolution, establishing the "hero with a secret identity" in popular culture.